Motivation
Field Research
During our first steps into our brain-storming phase, we took a field trip to visit some local playgrounds and hear the opinions and voices of parents. Below are some of their most noteworthy thoughts
" I don't really see [children with disabilities] at this playground... "
~Parent at Manhattan Playground
" I don't really know how that would even be possible..."
~Parent at Manhattan Playground
Client Feedback
We then continued with a small field survey conducted with students at P.S. 194, an elementary school in Brooklyn, NY, where we had children fill out a questionnaire asking which of two games --- Speed Star or a music-type game --- would they would prefer on a playground and why. Speed Star zoomed to beat out the competition as 75% of the students voted for our race car inspired game to be the winner. Here are some endearing quotes from the future racers:
"I like to drive so fast" - (Mainstream)
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"I get to race with my friends vs. my friends can race me" - (Special Ed)
"It would be so fun and I would go so fast and beat everyone" - (Special Ed)
"It's really fun and it challenge(s) your mind" - (Mainstream)
Further Research
"All kids are created equal with the same desire and need to experience play."
— Landscape Structures
K
After playing around with a variety of ideas, we settled upon creating a structure that would be truly inclusive to children of all abilities, in lieu to the many playground companies and organizations with similar goals. In particular, we continued to motivated and inspired by the vision and mission of Landscape structures, as well as the many efforts of other non-profit organizations such as Jumpstart in part of Canadian Tire.
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Landscape Structures is one of the leading companies that creates accessible playground materials and structures in order to build inclusive environments for children of all abilities.
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Jumpstart is a non-profit organization run by Canadian Tire whose mission is to design and establish at least one inclusive and accessible playground in every province of Canada.
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Inclusive playgrounds allow children to play, learn, and grow together.
